Metallic flume



Sept. 18,1923. W. L. CALDWELL ME TALL I C FLUME Filed Novfl'T, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 18 HQZE.

w. L. CALDWELL 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 METALLIC FLUMB Filed Nov. 1'?

Fetented Sept. 18,3923.

clerics.-

WILLIAM L. onnnw'nrin. or oANronQoriIo, iis' sten on, (BY riftsnn AssiGNMENrs, r0 UNITED ALLOY srnnnoonronnrron, oroeniron, OHIO, eoonronn rlon oFNEw YORK.

Application filed November 17, 1919. SerialNo. 338,698.

To tiZZ whom it may concern!" Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. CALD- WELL, a citizen of the United States, residingfzitCanton in the county of Stark'end State of Ohio, have invented a newand use; ful Metallic Flume, of which the 'itollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to: improvement in metallic tluines, which a. thin metallic trough is used forrdnveying water for power, irrigation or analogoiis purposes,'the trough being formed or successive sections of proper curvature and joined together to form "a continuous channel. in order toffacilitate the assembling of flnmes of this character the joints between the several sections should lie-Inside with a minimum: of separable parts and without rivets or bolts,

met to provide a water tight joint between the several sections,- means should be provided'ror clamping the overlapped endsof the sections tightly together; lhe joints should further add a. certain amount/of circumferential stiffness to'the thin shell of the flume sections and should he madewater tight without-the use of solder or the like.

The objects of th'e'inv'ention 'are to provide a fln'me in which the joints between the sections are made with a minimum of sep'arable parts. the joints being made water tinhtfwithout the use' ofsolder, bolts, rivets or other siippleme'ntal means;.to provide a joint between theflumesections in which no inner pressure bar is necessary: to provide a joint between the .flume sectionslhaving interior means for Forcing the partsinto 110-. sition. thus aiding materially in assembling the som and. preventing; displacement of the parts by strains'placed thereonrtoprofide a tliiine "having an integriil pressure member: end, to generally improve and simplifv the construction of sheet metal finnies.

The'seohiects together with supplemental ohjectsnre attained hi providing a sheet metalflnme made in of semiicircular. sec- -.tions. each section being providedat one end w'i-th integral reinforced pressure p'ortion, the" otherend of each section belng eprefer fably provided with a peripheral recess, the reinforced end trons-section being placed within thelrece's'sed end of the next adjacent section and held in engagement therewith by providing a hanger and a clamping bar which is connected to the hanger and arranged to draw the edges of. the inner section against the hanger and to clamp the outerlapped end. against the innerlapped end means-being; provided upon the hanger for forcing the pressure member upon the inner section into tight engagement with the recessed portion otthewouter section.

"The invention thus set forth in general terms is illustrated in the accompanying drawings? forming part hereof, in which- Figureil is ap'erspective view of portions of two sect-ions of flume' showing the joint.

Fig, Qis a) plan view of portionsof several .iiections of flame showing the joints between the. sections. I

Fig. 3. is atransverse sectional View through the jointci the fiume sections.

Fig; t i an enlarged sectionalviewshowing! the tunction ot the looking tongues.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig; :2, of a slightly modifiedfform oi flume.

A practical embodiment of the invention is disclosed in. the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in which similernumerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Qnite often conditions require that the iiumes be constructed of considerable length and that they be supported in places at an iippreoiable distance above the ground, it being freonentlv ne essa'iw to erect the Homes at the proper level and inclination in order that water mav be carried over elevations and across valleys. For this purpose it is necessary to erect a trestle or other suitable frame wot-l: ot vnrvinn height in order that the proper level and inclination of the flume may he maintained. the Home beingsunported throughout its length by means of suitable hangers l'which are carried by the trestle or frame workp i n The Home. sectionsQ are preferahly'formed of sheet metal and are semi-circular in cross section as indicated in-the drawings,

these sectionsbeinr'g of suitable lengthto' permit of their being easily handled and.

assembled. Each section is provided atone bar, the other end of each section being prefshown at 5 bringing the inner surface of thereinforced portion 3 into the same plane with the interior of thefiume.

The integral pressure member 3 1S arranged to be placed within the recessed end suitable apertures in the hanger, 30

150f the next adjacent section and the curved clamping; bar ,6 is arranged to be placed around the outer side of the overlapped ends of the flume sections. This clamping bar is of a size and shape to correspond substantially with the curvature of the exterior of the recessed portion. 4 of the finale sec-- tionaround which the bar is arranged "to beiloc'ated and 1s provided at each'end with La reducedthreaded portion 7 The hanger 1 is-preferably formed of channel iron as illustrated in the drawings and the Hume sect ons are clamped theretoby means ofthe threaded extremities 7 of the clamping 3 bar. which extend through ing provided thereon for drawing the flume sections toward'the hangerand clamping the outerlapped end between the clamping bar and the integral pressure member upon the innerlapped end.

The hanger is prov ded with meansactforcing them directly outward against the side or end portions of the outerlapped end. Preferred means forthe purpose are the flexible locking lugs 9 which may be tongues stamped from the web plate of the hanger, whence they extend downward and inwardly at such an angle that their endswill stand fully inside of thepressureportion of the inne'rlapped end when the parts-are assembled as shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

in detail the nuts 8 are then tightened on.

clamp ng the outerlapped end against the reinforced pressure portion of the nner V The lockinglugs are then driven upwardly near the ends thereofl as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4; and force them directly outward lapped end.

The bolts are then further tightened so as t clamp the outerlapped end of the one nuts 8 be i H ,made in this lapped 'end with the endsthereof in abut ment with the underside of the hanger.-

suitable tool against the-side portions of the outer-'- p 1nnerlapped end andwedgedupward flume section between the'claniping bar and the innerlapped end of the other flume section, such clamping action being accomplished by the strengthof the clamping bar operating against the integral pressure'po-rtion 3 as an abutment 'There is noclamping actionof the bolts at the sides of the fiunae' adjacent to the hanger because the pull of the bolts on the clamp- 9 one flunie section against the abutment formed by the end portions of the clamping H bar; which are stopped against lateral movement by the clamping bolts. i

Thus the overlappedends' of the flume sections arejclampedtogether. at the sides as well as at the bottom of the flume and it is evidentthat when the lugs 9 havebeen driven upward to effect the clamping action thus described; they will be locked in such po sition by their wedge action against the integral pressure portion as well asby' a-biting into-the same. V V The structure 1S stlifened circumferentially by meansof the folded integralpres sure ortion 3 as well .as'b the clam in 2) bar, the'joint between the sections xbeing braced" by reason of the coaction, between the integral pressure portionand'th'e clamp- I -ing bar, no innerpressu're .barbeing necesmg agalnst the ends of the integral pres- I 'sure portion 'on the lnnerlapped end and sary: with this construction as the folded portion 3 acts as an integral pressure bar.

For the purpose of further assuringa water tight joint between the sections of the flumie a .niastic mayfbe applied to; the joints between'thesections. 'This mastic may be what is known to the trade as gilsonite and when placed in the joints of the flame-sections forms awater tight seal between the seotions'obviating any leakage of the flow of wateiwthrWgh the flume at j the joints." 7 [After assembling the parts'thus described 1 338,696: and SerialNo. 338,697, which contain" claims to subject-matter V which: is re- Reference. 1s made to my copending applications, SerialNo:j338,695,.l$erial llo,11

lated to'that-which-is set forthin the claims application as follows.

Iclaim: v a 1. Ametalli'c flume including adjoining sections h aving overlapped ends, a transverse hangeradjacent to the edges ofthe over' lapped ends; ineans 7 connected with the hanger for clamping theoverlapped ends against the innerlapped end, there being outwardly extending tongues struck downward from the L hanger inside theedges ofgthe against the same to pressthem outward against the edges of the overlapped end.'

.2. A .metallic fluine including adjoining of said member, and the outerlapped end sections having overlapped ends a transbeing ofi-set outward to form n seat for the verse hanger adjacent to the edges of the innerlapped'end, and means for clamping 10 overlapped ends, the innerlapped end being the outerlapped end against the innerlapped 0flf'-set eutwardand folded inward upon its end. elf-set portion to form an integral pressure member for abutting the hanger at the ends 7 WILLIAM L. CALDWELL. 

